GISWatch has won the ITU-awarded WSIS project prize 2012

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By Mallory Knodel for APCNews

MONTREAL, Canada, 16 May 2012

The Association for Progressive Communications, in close cooperation with APC members, networks and civil society groups, is pleased to accept the WSIS Project Prize from the International Telecommunications Union for the achievements of the GISWatch project in “the role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICT for development.”

Each year, GISWatch aims to directly address an issue or theme that is central to WSIS Government and Civil Society commitments through critical assessment, review and monitoring of trends, emerging issues and implementation of activities. To date, GISWatch has addressed the following themes: Focus on Participation (2007), Access to Infrastructure (2008), Access to Online Information and Knowledge (2009), ICTs and Environmental Sustainability (2010) and Internet Rights and Democratisation (2011). The focus of the 2012 publication, to be released in November, will focus on Transparency and accountability.

GISWatch has made many important contributions to the understanding of ICT policies throughout the years, from ICT for development to internet governance from the perspectives of civil society. We view this prize as a strong affirmation from the ICT community that GISWatch is an innovative, replicable and worthwhile international project that involves stakeholders around the implementation of WSIS outcomes by offering an efficient scenario where those actors can share their best practices.

Of GISWatch’s impact, William Drake, director of the Project on the Information Revolution and Global Governance at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva and the President of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), said, “Since their launch in 2007, the annual GISWatch reports have become must-read material for analysts and activists concerned with the global social, economic and political effects of information and communication technologies. The insightful Thematic Reports set the context and focus for each edition, and the regional and country reports provide concise and authoritative overviews of how that focus is playing out “on the ground” around the world.”

This week, APC accepts the award at the 2012 WSIS Forum in Geneva. APC executive director Anriette Esterhuysen will give a presentation on the GISWatch project and attend the awards ceremony on behalf of all those who have contributed to the GISWatch publication and online network. APC and its network would like to extend an enthusiastic “thank you” to all stakeholders who voted to honor the GISWatch project with this esteemed award.